Southern Cross Media Group appoints Chris Jones Director of Sport – TV, Audio and Streaming

Chris Jones: Image: SCA

Southern Cross Media Group has announced the appointment of Chris Jones to the newly-created role of Director of Sport – TV, Audio and Streaming.

Jones will oversee the strategic direction of Seven and SCA’s combined sport portfolios.

He will be responsible for driving a unified sport strategy that scales and grows the group’s footprint across broadcast television, audio, digital, publishing and social platforms.

In addition, Jones will lead sports rights negotiations on behalf of the entire group, creating cross-platform deals that maximise value across the entire network.

Jones brings more than two decades of industry experience to the position, most recently serving as Director of Network Sport at Seven.

This new role brings together the assets of 7Sport, Triple M and LiSTNR under a single aligned structure.

Southern Cross Media Group says cross-promotion on Seven has already unlocked historic scale for Triple M and LiSTNR, while Triple M’s unique audience has fuelled year-on-year streaming growth on 7plus across cricket, the AFL and horse racing.

Jones said “It’s a privilege to lead this merged team of some of the country’s most talented on and off-air broadcasters. Working closely with Ewan Giles and the SCA sport team, we now have an incredible opportunity to capitalise on our strengths, allowing us to share talent, resources, and ideas seamlessly while protecting what makes each brand distinctive.”

“Sport audiences want great coverage whenever and however they consume it. By bringing together 7SPORT, Triple M and LiSTNR sport, we are building Australia’s most complete sports media operation, delivering engaging content wherever you are, throughout the whole day.”

Managing Director – TV and Streaming Angus Ross said “Chris has an incredible track record with Seven and the broader sporting industry. Having worked closely with Triple M over the years, it makes perfect sense to extend his expertise across audio to lead negotiations across all pillars.”

Managing Director – Audio John Kelly said “By working closer with Seven under Chris’ leadership we are unlocking a powerful cross-medium ecosystem. For our audiences, it means the country’s most comprehensive sports coverage, and for our clients and partners, it provides an unprecedented scale to reach highly engaged fans at every hour of the day.”

In his new role – which is effective immediately –  Jones will report to Seven’s Managing Director, TV and Streaming Angus Ross, while working closely with Managing Director and CEO Rohan Lund and the business’ core strategic pillars including Managing Director – Audio, John Kelly and SWM WA CEO Maryna Fewster to drive the joint strategy.

Head of Sport Content – Audio, Ewan Giles will report directly to Jones.